Patent GB-419568-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in automatic stabilisers for aeroplanes, vessels, torpedoes and the like craft
IPC: G05D1/08
Filed: 1933-12-29
Abstract: 419,568. Torpedoes. GIANOLI, M. L., 15, Rue Louis - Philippe, Neuilly - sur - Seine, France. Dec. 29, 1933, No. 36619. Convention date, Dec. 31, 1932. [Class 9 (ii).] In an apparatus for automatically controlling the direction of torpedoes by means of a device acting on a control restored to its mean position as soon as the variation of direction tends to diminish, the device is connected to a member that moves between two stops or abutments, being actuated in one direction when the detected variations increase and in the opposite direction when they diminish, the latter movement restoring the control to or near its mean position. In the particular arrangement shown which relates to the control of the height of an aircraft the automatic adjustment of an elevator 2, Fig. 4, is controlled according to the displacement of a wind vane 4 in combination with an auxiliary vane 26 subject to an air current in a constant direction. The vane 4 is carried on a trapezoidal linkage 6, 7, and normally with a relative wind in a direction f, the various parts assume the position shown in Fig. 4. Connected to the linkage 6, 7 is a counterweighted bell crank lever 10, 10<a>, which through a rod 11<a>, is associated with a frame 12 mounted on a fixed pivot 13 and provided with a slot 12b in which moves a pin 27 on the lower end of a control lever 28 for the elevator 2. At the upper end of the frame 12 is pivoted at 14 a rod 15 on which a sleeve 16 slides with considerable friction, so that it is displaced only when brought into contact with the abutments 17, 18. Pivotally connected to the sleeve 16 is a bellcrank lever 20, 20<a>, hinged at 21 to the arm 22<a> of a second bell-crank lever 22, 22<a> mounted on a fixed pivot 23. The lower end of the arm 23 is slotted at 22<b> to coact with the pin 27 and slot 12<b>, while the arm 22<a> forms with the arm 20<a> and links 24, 25 a parallelogram linkage supporting the vane 26 in a directive air current obtained, e.g. by the employment of a guide tunnel. In the normal or initial position the pivots 13, 14, 19 are collinear and the sleeve 16 contacts with the abutment 17. If a current in the direction f<1> should be encountered, the vane 4 and links 6, 7 are elevated, the rod 11<a> is pulled downwardly, the pivots 13, 14, 19 break joint, and the sleeve 16 is brought into contact with the abutment 18, thus tilting the bell-crank 20, 20<a> and linkage carrying the vane 26, so that the latter is inclined to the directed air current, Fig. 5. The air pressure swings the latter downwards again into line with the current, with the result that the pin 27 passes to the opposite end of the slot 12b, (Fig. 6, not shown), operating the elevator 2, which is then subject directly to increases or decreases of the displacement of the vane 4. As soon as the effect of the elevator 2 is sufficient to reverse the effort exerted on the vane 4, the rod 11<a> is pushed upwardly, and the vane 26 is tilted in the opposite direction to its previous tilt, (Fig. 8, not shown), whereby the air pressure thereon operates to restore the parts to the initial position, or, if the sleeve 16 had actually been displaced along the rod 15, possibly to a position beyond the zero position. Instead of arranging the sleeve 16 to move frictionally on the rod 15, the relative movement may be resisted by hydraulic'or electromagnetic means, while other forms of linkages interconnecting the controlling and controlled elements are described.